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Yiya's avatar
Yiya
Member
7 years ago

Follow up protocols at Peter McCallum?

Hi lovely ladies,

any of you being treated at Peter McCallum and that can tell me how their follow up protocol works once active treatment is over?

I have been treated privately from bilateral BC with double mastectomy in March and ovaries removed in April due to BRCA2 mutation and my oncologist mentioned today that moving forward I'll see her or my Breast Surgeon every 3 months for two years and then every 6 months. No need for regular imaging or CT scans. I am wondering if the timing of visits and also the no need for imaging or tests unless there is any symptom or lump detected through manual examination is similar at Peter McCallum?

6 Replies

  • Thank you everyone for taking the time to explain the usual protocol. My wonderful mother temporarily  moved from Spain to help me out the minute I was diagnosed. I cannot thank her enough for her support, but she drives me crazy with her double guessing on whether what I am being offered is enough - "at home they do blood tests for tumour markers; at home they do PET-scans...". It is reassuring to hear that any concerns moving forward can be discussed with either the cancer care team or my GP and everyone will take immediate action.
  • Yes that it the standard care and the team usually share care...ie oncology and breast surgeon so somebody is doing hands on initially 3 monthly then 6 monthly. If you had your breasts you would have a mammogram but because of surgery they will just have a real good feel of your nodes. 
    20 years ago they routinely did bone scans and CT scans searching for mets. They found it didn't detect any earlier for the majority than actually the pain, lumps or bumps did. They also felt the scanxiety women had just made life miserble with no measurable benefit.
    So now. ...ultrasounds and scans done if pain or issues. Having said that...in 3 years I've had  3 ultrasounds, a CT scan and a MRI due to symptoms and pain....and no mets found thus far...just bloody arthritis, disc issues and bursitis. I expect many ladies have had similar also. When seeing a GP with any issue...always remind them your history of breast cancer. They really do take things seriously and are thorough with investigations then (as they should be)
  • Just emphasising @Artferret's point - you should always be able to make an appointment to see your oncologist, or surgeon, outside the scheduled checks. I haven't used that option often but any concerns should be checked immediately. Mainly for your own peace of mind! 
  • Same here and i go through Peter Mac too (as a private patient). At this point I just see my surgeon and onco once a year 6 months apart and yearly mammogram and every two years bone density scan. If you have any concerns you can make an appt to see them outside the regular visits.
  • I only had a single mastectomy, but the alternating meetings with my oncologist and surgeon were the same, starting with 3 months (now yearly). As I have one breast I had ultrasound and mammogram tests annually but without, I suspect it would be similar to what has been proposed to you - no imaging unless there is some clear reason to do so. Scans and imaging carry some degree of risk so tend to be used sparingly.